View full sizeMichael Wayland | MLive.com Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel speaks during at event June 8 to unveil the âÂÂBlue Economy Strategic Development PlanâÂÂ at the MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township.

HARRISON TWP.- Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel Friday unveiled a new plan to use the county’s unique natural resources and new investments to increase economic development.

Hackel said the “Blue Economy Strategic Development Plan” aims to simultaneously improve environmental stewardship, economic development and quality of life in Macomb County.

According to officials, new potential developments outlined in the plan include a minor league baseball park, a state pier, a bass fishing tournament on Lake St. Clair and a botanical garden.

Gerard Santoro, program manager of land and water resources, said the projects are conceptual, and nothing has been finalized.

A large part of the plan, according to Hackel, is to use the county’s natural resources, including about 31 miles of lakefront property, to attract everything from tourism to new businesses.

“Macomb County is very well suited to build upon the extensive and unique water exits that are familiar to the residents and visitors of our county,” he said at the MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township. “Under the Blue Economy initiative, Macomb County will improve upon its water access, water quality and water attraction.”

The immediate goals of the plan, according to Hackel, are to create more attractions and opportunities for the public, and formally discuss building everything from hotels to piers in the county.

“When I first started thinking about running for county executive, I wasn’t thinking about election, I Was thinking about direction,” Hackel told MLive.com following the announcement. “And the most important thing to me was we need to brand this county.

“We’ve never done that. We’ve never really got a good understanding on what we’re about – branding it and marketing it. That’s what we’re trying to do.”